Method of making container closures



Y 1948- c. HAMMER METHOD OF MAKING CONTAINER CLOSURES I Filed March 21,1942 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 y 6, 1948- c. HAMMER 2,444,5Q6 METHOD OFMAKINGCONTAINER CLOSURES Filed March 21, 1942 A 4 sheets sheet 2 y 1948- c.HAMMER 2,444,506

NUFJ'I'I'IOD OF MAKING CONTAINER CLOSURES Filed Marchv2l, 1942 4Sheeis-Sheet 5 July 6, 1948. 1 HAMMER 2,444,506

METHOD OF MAKING CONTAINER CLOSURES Filed March 21, 1942 4 Sheets-Sheet4 Patented July 6, 1948 UNITED STATES T OFFICE METHOD OF MAKINGCONTAINER CLOSURES This invention relates to caps or closures forcontainers or receptacles such as bottles and jars and to the method ofmaking the same, it more particularly relating to what are known asreseal or tamper-proof closures, by which is meant that style of closurewhich will readily disclose improper tampering with the containercontents, the present invention having to do with that form of closureshown and described in my prior Patents 2,175,350 of October 10, 1939,and, 2,191,989 of February 2'7, 1940. The object of the presentinvention is the provision of an improved pre-formed, preferablyrotatable reseal cap comprising the cap or closure proper which may beused to reseal the container and a sealing band of the same materialeffective to prevent improper tampering with the container contents,both made in a continuous operation and of the same material such as tinor black plate or some suitable springy material, whereby the cost ofmaking and assembling these resealable caps is very materially reducedand whereby also the cap and its sealing band may be more readilyseparated without the'necessity of first removing the sealing band andwhen separated will clearly indicate any improper tampering with thecontents and which cap may be quickly and inexpensively produced withoutthe'use of objectionable scoring, scorelines or tear-off strips or theuse of such thin material that the cap is practically not reuseable.

In the manufacture of this style of caps, efforts have been made toaccomplish the desired result either by scoring the cap so as to enableone part of the cap to be torn from the other along the score lines orby providing tear-01f strips or a sealing band of a thinner fragilemetal than that of which the cap is made.

The trade has recognized that score lines are objectionable for numerousreasons, among which is that the cap will not always tear, or will tearunequally and cannot be readily reused.

Tear-off strips are also objectionable since, frequently, it isdifiicult to sever the strip along a predetermined line resulting in buta portion of the band being removed and requiring the application oftools to remove the cap. Also, it is not infrequent that manipulation ofsuch strips results in injuries to the hands of the user which havesometimes proven serious. Consequently, customers have taken a strongdislike to such type of caps.

The use of sealing bands of different material than the cap itself, suchas thin aluminum or tin foil, is not only more expensive since it isnecessary that the band and cap be made or assembled by separateoperations materially increasing the cost of manufacture of the cap butsuch thin sealing bands have the same objectionable features as tear-offstrips.

In attempts to obviate these disadvantages, caps have been made of somethin pliable fragile metal which will permit the cap to be pressed ormolded on to the container neck to conform to the shape thereof, thatis, caps of pliable metal in which the locking elements such as threadsare formed when the cap is applied to the container but these,obviously, are also objectionable since they are easily bent out ofshape on the removal of the cap and, therefore, become inefiicient toreseal the container, as distinguished from a preformed metal cap, thatis, one in which the metal is sufiiciently rigid, as when formed of tinor black plate, to permit the cap with its locking elements or threadsto be formed on a machine and applied to the container without thenecessity of shaping 0r molding it thereon which also requires time andis expensive, and in which its reuse to preserve the contents of thecontainer,

due to its light and flimsy character, is materially interfered with,

Therefore, it is the object of the present improvement to provide aseverable cap which is not dependent upon score lines, tear-ofi stripsor thin bands of foil or independent assembly steps, or the applicationof tools to insure removal.

Therefore, the principal object of the invention is the provision of animproved preformed cap that is, one in which the cap may be eiii cientlyand inexpensively made by machinery and shipped in quantities for quickand easy application to containers without the shaping or molding of thethreads while on the container and which may be made in a continuousoperation and all of the same material and which will permit the cap tobe removed without first mutilating or removing the sealing band.

In the drawings accompanying and forming a part of this specificationiFig. 1 illustrates in section this improved cap applied to the neck of acontainer such as a bottlo.

Fig. 2 is a sectional View of a modification of the cap and sealing bandflange.

Fig. 3 illustrates the upper portion of a container with the cap removedand the sealing band on the bottle.

Fig. 4 is a side view of the completed cap and its band. i

Figs. 5, 6 and 7 illustrate, respectively, 1118807 tion the formation ofthe milled flange, the severed flange and the union of the flanges bybending one over the other.

Fig. 8 is a plan view of one form of rolling elements that may be usedto form the cap.

Fig. 9 is a sectional view on line 9-9 of Fig. 8 and illustrates theformation of the corrugated or knurled portion, the threads and themilled proiectingrflange.

Fig. wish-sectional view onsline IE-til of Fig. 8 and illustrates thesevering of the flanges and the partial bending thereof.

Fig. 11 is a detail sectional view illustrating the flange severingelements.

Fig. 12 is a sectional view on line 42-42 of Fig. 8 and illustrates thelapping of theflanges,'. and

Fig. 13 is a sectional view showing the compression of the flanges ofthe cap into uirtaposition. 1

Similar reference characters indicate corresponding partsin the severalviews.

Beforeiexplaining in detail the present improvement andiits mode ofoperation, I desire it understood that the invention is not limited tothe details of construction and arrangement-oi parts .illustrated in theaccompanying drawings since the invention is capable ofotherembodimerits, and thatthe iphraseology-employed is for {the purposeof description and not of limitation.

In the :preferred form of cap herein hown, .it is -illustrated as askirt-formed, threaded cap although, obviously, it could-be made withany suitablelocking elements as desired and the improvement-may be usedwith various styles and sizes of caps for different-kinds of containers.Inthe,-present1instance, the-cap is shown as a bottle cap 2 comprising atop -3 which maybe provided with a sealing medium such as a liner4-orcork 5 :tor stoppering the container when in thef-formrof abottleand-a skirt or capsule 6 having -locking' elements such as threads 1formed thereon.

:Below these docking --elements, the cap has termed there-with :as'ealing band 8 which .may Jae-readily bentsor' spun around a shoulder 9of the container neck to prevent "the cap'zasa whole being :removedtherefrom, thereby permanently securing the. lower part of :the map to Tthe bottle, "this bending, -:of course, taking :place after the.capxihasiheen completely rotated ion to :the contamer.

:The juxtaposediportionsrofathe 'cap '2 and'iseallingi'hand ::8 :areshaped :to .iorm: an outwardly 'extendingshol'low or double-wall -:bead,projection orrflange 10 either :of continuous or interrupted. ,4

annular form extending :bey'ond' the: normal plane of the'c'ap and itscban'd, and thls annularflange *is,-durin'g:thefmanufacture of the cap,severed atlits apex .11! .and subsequently united by .any.suitable'means as by bending or iclamping one part aof the flange'overathe other or/by a suitable adhesive such as solder, and this formsa weakene'd portion to permit the reap to be separated from its sealingband.

in the manufacture of this urn-proved cap, a cup shaped blank-is first:madecomprismg altop and its depending skirt or capsule of sufiicientlength -to enclose the neck ofthe container-and also form the sealinghand. Then, by means oif sui-tabledies or r'olli-n'g elements the skirtmay 70 t mer,

belprcvided on its iexteriorlat its upper end with knurls orcorrugations 12 to provide :an 'eflicient grip dor rotating the cap on.the -"b'0tt1e' and :preferably at the same time the skirt is alsoProvided with threads :1 if desired or other-suitable locking means.During the formation of these threads, the outwardly extending flangeIE1 is also formed, usually substantially V-shaped and, preferably,during the formation of this V-shaped flange, the metal thereof isweakened by milling it as at l3.

This milling operation, of course, may take place before the cap skirtis otherwise treated, if desired, but ispreferably "accomplishedsimultaneously'with the formation of the outwardly projecting flange byproviding the flange forming elements with milled surfaces. This millingthins and, therefore, weakens the metal at the apex portions of theprojecting flange so that when the cap is rotated or forced oii thecontainer, it

is :readily separated from its sealing band and, consequently, the capcan be readily replaced to reseal th'e'container. Subsequent to theformation'of'this milled flange H], the flange is severed along oradjacent to its "apex l I.

In one form of the improvement, after the projecting flangaissevered'altits apex, the adjacent flange portions are brought into engagementbysuitable pressure (see Fig. 2) and united by an adhesivemedium .suchassolder or other material, the milled portions of the flange providing aroughened surface facilitating this procedure. This maybe readily donein various ways as .by rotating the cap while'onvits roll through a bath'of molten solder.

In another form of the improvement, the outer edge of one flange portionis bent, clamped or rolled over the other flange portion, thus obviatingthe use of a soldering material (seefiFig. 1) Both, however, formaread-ily separable .joint for the removal of the cap portion.

Toaccomplish theloending orrol'ling of one portion of the flange 1-0over another :portion thereof, as for instance, the toptportion Hoverthe bottom portion- I6 of the flange,- it is merely necessaryduringthe'formation of-thecap andeas the flange is being severed alongits apex, -to exert suflicient pressure upon the severed flange portionsof the sealingbandrso :as to force the bottom flange i-por-tion l6inwardly, thus shortening it, whereby the top flange portion 1-5 willproject sufldciently to roverlap it. I l-Iereaiter, the flanges may, bepressed together and completely lapped. When "this overlappingconnection of :the flanges is used, thecap is more-easily removed fromthe container because the cap can be rotated backward without rotatingthe seaIing'lba-nd and,=consequently, the :cap, in-riding upthe threadswhen it-is turned off the container, exerts most-"of. its pull on'theweakened flange Eportion rather than on the lower: spun-over edgc. Thus,the. sealing band, with its lower edge spun and, therefore,

clamped around thevshoulderQ-oi the'container, has a tendency to retainitSJPDSitiUn'DR'thB container andnot rotate withtheicapzso that the cap,on b eing turnedfoff the container, rotates relative to the sealing bandand very much facilitates severance or the cap from the sealing bandsince the cap -ca -n-ride up 'on 'the'threads of the-com-'tainer'w-ithoutipulling' the sealing bandiwith it so that the weakenedflanges are "more quickly and readily -severed, and thisialso'withoutzany rdis- 'tortion or mutilation of the sealing :band andmaking-it dangerous -subseduentlyrto'loandlerthe con- Instead tcompletely severing the flange, it may be severed at intervalstherearound which wills'uifici'ently weaken lit to :permittithe-separation *of the cap and this woul'dgo'f course, makexitnmnecessarytc reunite theicapimembers.

In practice, "while either flange portion may overlap or be bent overthe other flange, I have shown the top flange portion I5 of the cap bentor rolled over the lower or flange portion 86 of the sealing band.

One form of elements that may be used for carrying out this method isshown in Figs. 8 to 12 comprising a, fixed circular element 20 anda rollor rolling element 2| which carries the cap around the fixed element andwhich is shaped to correspond with the fixed element. These elements areprovided with meshing teeth properly to position them.

The fixed element 20 is made up of segments or sections of any desirednumber depending upon the number of forming steps required, four beingshown. The segmental sections 22 and 23 are so shaped as to form thecorrugations $2, the threads 1 or other locking means and during theformation of these threads form the flange it and mill it. Anothersegmental section, as it, severs the flange and partly bends the severedportions thereof in readiness to be completely lapped when this step ispreferred to soldering. Subsequent to this, the so-bent flanges are, bythe section 25, initially lapped to form a closed flange in readiness tobe further treated as by suitable male and female dies 25 and 21 in themanner shown in Fig. 13 so that the walls of the flanges are compressedinto substantial juxtaposition, as illustrated in Fig. 7. This steprather sharply bends the milled apex of the lapping flange and has atendency consequently further to weaken it. Usually means is provided togive different radial pressures to the segmental sections whereby onemay be shifted relative to another, as required, and for whichpurposethe ends of the segmental sections have a sliding fit and overlap oneanother.

When the flange is to be severed from the outside in, the segmentalsection 24 is provided with a cutting portion 26' (see Fig. 11) whichmay be formed separate therefrom and, therefore, removable to facilitateresharpening, cooperating with a groove or depression 28 at the apex ofthe roll 2| and into which the cutting edge will project.

The cutting member is so formed, as by providing suitable shoulders atand b that they will press the under flange It inwardly and thensomewhat press the top flange l5 toward it in readiness for the nextstep of lapping the flanges, which takes place as the cap is carried byits roll to the segmental section 25 where the flanges are lapped andagain closed. The cap may then be placed in the dies 26 and 27 (Fig. 13)and the flanges compressed into substantial juxtaposition (see Fig. '7).

Thus, when the cap is rolled over its proper segment, the flange will besevered adjacent to its apex and then these severed flanges will bebrought into juxtaposition to be united as by solder or by suitablepressure so brought into position to have one flange rolled over theother.

When the flanges are to be merely brought into juxtaposition, as in Fig.2, without other bending, the segment 25 and its roll ii are shaped toaccomplish this.

Thus, from the foregoing, it will be seen that both the cap and itssealing band may be made in practically a continuous operation and ofthe same material and yet have a weakened separable joint which willreadily permit the cap to be removed independently of its sealing bandand, thereafter, to be used to reseal the container.

In practice, the severing of'the flange may either be from the insideout or the outside in by merely reversing the structure of the rollingelements. In the present instance, I have shown the cap severed fromthe-outside in.

Thus, the several sections of the fixed segmental element, together withthe roll carrying the cap, moving around these segmental sections,performs each a part of the work and make the cap and its sealing bandpractically in one continuous operation and all of the same material inreadiness to be applied to a container and have the sealing band 8 bentunder the container shoulder with the juxtaposed portions of the cap andsealing band flange ill sufliciently weakened to permit the cap to berotated free of the sealing band when the container is to be opened andyet permit the cap to be used to reseal the container.

In practice, the milled portion of the flange may also be scored toweaken it further which likewise can be done during the operation offorming the cap simply by providing the necessary scoring face on theforming elements. Also, in that form where one flange portion is seamedor rolled over the other, it may be desirable only to mill theoverlapping portion l5 of the flange instead of the entire flange andthis, of course, may be done merely by milling the correspondingcoacting faces of the cap roll and segment.

If desired, the locking threads, when such are used, may be relativelyshallow in the first instance and subsequently deepened in the mannershown and described in my patents hereinbefore referred to, thus givinga truerand better thread.

In the present improvement it will therefore be seen that the gradualrotation of the cap off the container will result, due to theinclination of the threads, in separating the cap portion from thesealing band portion at the apex of the flange, this being obtainedwithout the tearingoff of a tear-off strip, the fracture thereofcrosswise or the use of any instrument to sever the parts and since thecap and its sealing band cannot thereafter be reunited in any practicalway, it follows that any improper tampering with the container can bereadily detected both by the hand and the eye, however,withoutinterfering with the replacement of the cap to reseal thecontainer. 1

Thus, I have provided a preformed severable cap and sealing band whichcan be made in practically one continuous operation out of the samematerial and which will efliciently-preventtampering withthe contentswithout detection and in which the cap portion can be readily removedwithout first removing or tearing off a sealing band. i

It is to be understood that, by describing in detail herein anyparticular form, structure or arrangement, it is not intended to limitthe in vention beyond the terms of the several claims or therequirements of the prior art.

Having thus explained the nature of my said invention and described away of constructing and using the same although without attempting toset forth all of the forms in which it may be made or all of the modesof its use, I claim:

1. The method of making a closure cap capable of repeated reuse andhaving locking elements for rotatably securing the cap on to a containerand a sealing band severable therefrom and adapted to be bent around theshoulder of a container, which consists in providing the cap with askirt of suflicient length to receive ithe locking elements andalsozform an --integral sealing :band ibelowwsaidlocking elements,'forming -,;said docking elements v.in :the skirt, forming below saidlocking elements an :outwardly extending double walledintegral flange,then severing-the flange adjacent .to its apex, andthen .reunitingthesevered parts I of the vflange to form ,a severable joint svealrerthanthe original :joint ,-of--.the-unsevered-rparts and permit the cap tobeseparated .-from its ,sealing band on the rotation ,of thercap ofithescontainer withoutifirst tracturing or removing .the sealing band.

Theimethodr-of making a closure-cap capaeble of repeated reuse,and'having docking elements ,for rotatably securing the cap ton to ,a

container and a sealing band severable therefrom andadapted to be bentaround theshoulder of ma container, which consists providing the capwith Ta skirt :of sufficient length \to receive the locking elements andalso torm ,an integral 'sealingband spacedtbelowsaid locking elements,forming -=inclinedor threadlike locking elements in 1 the skirt,,Iorming in the spaced part -.below said slacking elements an outwardlyextending double-walled iintegralaflange, then severing the ilange(adjacent toyits-apex, and then :reuniting the severedparts -of :theflange to vform. a severable ,jointsth'at will-gpermitthezcap during itsrotation off thee-container up the inclined .lockin elementsto'rotateirelatively to its bandxand efieot. its release therefrom andhe removed without,firstiracturingorsremoving the sealing hand.

,3. ,The method -,of making a closure cap capa- ,ble' of repeated reuseand :having looking elements for rotatably securing the cap -.on to acontainer and azsealing band severable therefrom.- and :adaptedeto theabent around -:the shoulder .of-a-eontainer, .-.which eonsistsdnproviding .the cap ,with a skirt :of -:-suficient length Eto receive thedocking (elements and also form ran integral sealing iband '1b810W saidlocking elements, :forming gsaidllocking :elements in .the -.skirt,forming helowsaid locking elements :an outwardly extending doubleewalledintegral flange having :a \weakened portion, then tsevering ithe flangeadjacent .to. its apex, :andthen :reuniting the severed parts oftherfiangetto for-m a'severable joint weakerst-han the original joint:-of 1 the unsevered ,parts ,and :.permit the cap to :he separated fromits sealing band on the rotation -;of the ecapzoff the-container withoutfirst-fracturing or removing-theisealing band.

A. The method of imakingaclosure capicapable .of repeated -reuse ,:andhaving locking elements for rotatably securing thecap -.on -;to ,acontainer and Pa xsealing ,band severable therefrom -and adaptedto bebent aroundthe, shouldertofiatcontainer, which consists in providing thenapzwith a skirtgof -.-suflicient length to receive" the lockingelements and also. form an iintegral sealing band ibelowsaidlockingselements-forming:said-locking elements in; the skirt, formingbelow-saidlocking elements anoutwardly :extending :double-walled:integral flange, ethen severing "the flange adiacentlto its apex,=andthen reuniting the severed ,parts of the iflange --by rbendiljlg oneover the other to 'forma :severablejoint weaker than the original jointof the unsevered- ;parts and permit the cap t0-:beseparatedtromitssealingband on the notation 1 of the =cap off thecontainer without first fracturing or removing the sealing band.

:5. The method of makingaelosure-cap capable "of repeated reuse; andhaving Blocking-elements for :rotatably securing :the .cap on "toacontainer and :a sealing =band severable therefrom andadapted tobe bent.around ,the shoulder of a container, which consistsin providing :thecap with a skirt of sufiicient length tojreceiveithelocking elements andalso form an integral sealing band-belowtsaid locking elements, formingsaid locking elements in -.thetskirt, forming belowsaid locking elementsan outwardly extending :double-wal-led integral flange, then severingthe flange adjacent to its apexgand then reunitingthe severedparts ofthe .flange by bending that ofthe cap over that of :the sealing band-todormaseverablejoint weaker than the original joint of the iunseveredparts and; permit the cap to heseparated :from; its seal- .in band -Onthe rotation I of the cap off :the container without "first fracturing0r removing the sealing-band.

-.6.- The method of making a closurecap capable :of repeatedreuse andhaving locking-elements for rotatably securing the cap on to a containerand a sealing 'band severable therefrom and adapted ,to be ,bent aroundthe shoulder Ofra container, which consists-inproviding-the cap witha-skirt of sufiicient lengthto receive the locking: elements and: also,form-an integralrsealing-bandbelow:said locking elements, forming said"locking elements .in ,the skirt, forming below said locking elements an;outwardly extending -.double walled integral flange, then-severing(the-flange adjacent to its apex, and ithen reuniting tthe. severedparts of :the flange by bending one to a greater extent-than the otherand-.over'the-other to form aseverable ,jointweaker than the original,joint of theaunsevered parts :and permit the cap=to be separated from.its sealing band-entire rotation of the cap off thecontainer withoutfirst fracturing .or:re .moving the sealing band.

--.CHARLES HAMMER.

REFERENCES CITED .The :following references are'of recorcl in the .file:of 2131115 :patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name :Date

161,634 Patterson ,Ap r."6, 1875 5382;070 .Joh'nson -Jan. 17,1911

1 043359 Revel, lJr Nov. 5, 11912 1,272,859 fRussell July l6,.19l81,319,395 Huddleston ,(Dct. 21, 1919 12,002,456 -Sebell :May.2-1,;,19352,191,989 Hammer -Feb. i27,;1940 2,028,202 aGauthier 1,Jan;21, 19.362,039,972 Lyon :Aug. 517, 1937 2,153,344 Selliken Apr. 4,1939 21-? 5,350Hammer -iOc t. ,10, 1939 2,280,724 Sharp Apr.:2 1, 19 12

